Football writer with The Age

Roos star: Majak Daw will play for North Melbourne on Friday night. Photo: Joe Armao

FINALLY, after three years of being the AFL's most discussed untried rookie, Majak Daw will play his first game as a senior listed North Melbourne player on Friday.

One year after he was banished by the club for his lapses in professionalism, Daw will line up against Melbourne and Richmond after winning his coaches and teammates over with his improved attention to detail this pre-season. Daw, 21, was elevated to the senior list at the end of last season, three years after he was drafted as a rookie with much-celebrated hopes of becoming the first Sudanese-born AFL player.

Daw said being sent away from the club and forced to experience ''the real world'' had made him appreciate how lucky he was to play professionally. He said he had lied to Brad Scott - telling the coach he had not gone out to a nightclub while recovering from a knee injury - because he had been scared.

''I lied because I was scared of getting in trouble. I knew I'd done the wrong thing and my first instinct was to protect myself and avoid trouble and lie to the coach about it,'' Daw told Fairfax Media. ''I was afraid of the consequences of what I'd done and I was thinking, 'What's going to happen to me?', but by lying I caused a much bigger problem than would have been there in the first place.

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''At the time it was really hard. I was embarrassed and I was unhappy that my actions affected the people around me so much, but now that a year's gone by and I can look back on it, I think it was a huge turning point. It was only after it happened that I sat back and thought, that was a stupid mistake and people are going to form opinions about me based on something stupid that I've done. I could see how much trust I'd lost and that was a big realisation for me.''

Said Scott: ''I'm looking forward to seeing him play … He'll do things that make people sit up and watch, but he'll make a lot of mistakes as well.''

29 comments so far

First up, this guy is not a "star". Stop putting labels on footy players especially one's who have hardly played the game. Secondly, this guy needs to experience "the real world"??? You're kidding me aren't you. Didn't he come from the real world. If Daw doesn't appreciate the amazing opportunity he has been given, not only to live in this wonderful country but to be given a VERY VERY well paid job, then he must be thick as a brick.

Commenter

Dano

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 8:09AM

Umm... Damo, I think he might have mentioned that he did realise how lucky he is, and that he made a mistake and has learnt from it !Did you actually read the full article, or just make knee jerk reaction as soon as you read one little bit ?... Seriously !I agree with you that he is not a star, and typical media for jumping the gun on an untried (in AFL circles) player... but he does look good !

Commenter

Eric Major

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 8:37AM

Agreed. He has yet to play ONE game, and all this publicity, no wonder many go off the rails. Haven't the terms "star" and "champion" been flogged to death, we're now handing out these accolades like the ACB hands out Test Caps. However I do make one point those two words are so often used by journos who never played the game....interesting to say the least.

Commenter

Glen

Location

Yea

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 8:49AM

Watching him play for Werribee last season shows he has what it takes, just needed to get his head in the right place.

He will be a football star some time in the future.

Commenter

Muggins

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 8:58AM

Ease up Dano. Had YOU read the article in its entirety, you would surely comprehend that Majak has/does indeed appreciate the amazing opportunity he has been given as a reward for his exceptional athletic abilities and the humbris he has shown in admitting that he has learnt from his mistakes..... and yes he did come from the real world...... visited any war torn countries lately Dano?

Commenter

Potcalling

Location

Durham Lead

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 9:02AM

How many games ahve you played Dano????

Commenter

Bean

Location

Beanville

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 9:35AM

Israel Folau was touted as a star too before he even graced the Sherrin.

Commenter

T

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 10:04AM

This is a very Gen Yer thing to do, adopt labels without deserving them because, you know, everyone deserves to be a star..well thats what mum told these gen yers while being proud of the 9th placed ribbon.

Commenter

Davide

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 10:18AM

I would've thought that being a refugee from Sudan is more "real world" than any of us is likely to ever experience.

Commenter

jane

Date and time

February 21, 2013, 11:34AM

Everyone needs to chill out, they refer to him as a star because of his celebrity status. You don't see them referring to him as a champion because a champion is an athlete who has proven his ability.